The bright light

Former M16 agent Richard Tomlinson suggested at the inquest into Diana’s death in 2008 that security services were monitoring the Princess of Wales and driver Henri Paul may have been an informant.

He claimed that her death resembled plans he saw in 1992 for the assassination of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milsoevic using a bright light to cause a traffic accident.

The Telegraph reported one witness American Brian Anderson, who was a passenger in a taxi at the time, claimed at the inquest he saw a “significant flash of light” followed by a “very loud bang” before the crash.

He told the inquest how four motorbikes were like a “cluster in a swarm around the Mercedes”.

Witness Francois Levistre told the inquest into Diana’s death that he was driving in front of the Mercedes when the flash lit up the underpass “like the light from a police speed camera”.

He claimed the flash came from a motorbike which overtook the Princess’ car seconds before the impact.

He also alleged that one of the two bikers on the motorcycle walked over to the wreckage and gave a “mission accomplished” hand gesture.

The jury was also told police doubted Mr Levistre’s evidence after he had given conflicting versions of events in separate witness statements, the Telegraph reported.

He had also served time in prison for possessing an illegal weapon and had been held in connection with an alleged plot to sell a child, the jury heard.

Tomlinson, who was dismissed from MI6 in 1995, was jailed for six months two years later under The Official Secrets Act 1989 after he gave a synopsis of his proposed book The Big Breach detailing his career to an Australian publisher.

During the inquest, Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6 confirmed that a proposal to assassinate a senior Balkan politician by forcing a car crash in a tunnel was briefly considered in the early 1990s, but said it was rejected, reported the Guardian.

Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones alongside driver Henri Paul, with Diana and Dodi in the back, on the fatal night in Paris

Henri Paul

Conspiracy theorists including Mr Al-Fayed have claimed that Ritzy chaffeur Henri Paul was a double agent for French and possibly British security services.

They pointed to a large amount of cash found in his possession at the time, and considerable personal wealth held in 15 separate bank accounts.

It emerged at the inquest Henri Paul was captured on CCTV waving to photographers shortly before the couple left the Ritz Hotel.

Operation Paget concluded his wealth had not come from security services.

Police said he would have only had contact with French secret service agents when high ranking guests stayed at the hotel.

There was further controversy as Lord Stevens admitted he had told Henri Paul’s parents their son was not drunk and had drunk two alcoholic drinks from the hotel bar on the night, which was confirmed by a drinks bill.

Paul’s dad Jean told The Mirror he believes Diana and Dodi were killed in a plot to stop her “marrying a Muslim.”

Jean, of Lorient, Brittany, also believe samples showing his son had alcohol in his system could have been tampered with after his death.

He said: “Diana was killed and my son was killed. I believe they were both murdered.

“My son was simply ­collateral damage of a plot to kill Diana and they killed him as well.

“The English police came here to visit me and sat exactly where you are sitting now.

“Even inside Scotland Yard there are two sides. One believes there was a secret plot to kill Diana, the other believes it was a genuine accident.”

But an expert in the Met’s Paget report stated he had drunk the equivalent of ten small glasses of Ricard before driving.

SAS involvement

Alleged SAS involvement in Diana’s death came from a letter written in 2011 and made public three years ago alleging that a member of the unit had boasted that the SAS “was behind” the Princess’ death and that it was covered up.

He said in a letter: “Whilst there is a possibility that the alleged comments in relation to the SAS’s involvement in the death may have been made, there is no credible or relevant evidence to support a theory that such claims had any basis in fact.”

What was the verdict of the Met Police Operation Paget investigation and jury inquest?

An 18-month investigation by French authorities which ended in 1999, after interviewing 200 witnesses, concluded Diana was killed because Henri Paul was driving at high speed under the influence of alcohol – and ruled out security services involvement, the Telegraph reported.

Former Met Police Commissioner Lord Stevens launched a criminal investigation – called Operation Paget – in 2004 at the request of Royal Coroner Michael Burgess.

This probe would examine the conspiracy theories voiced by people including Mr Al-Fayed.

The 832-page Paget report, which included 1,500 witness statements, was published on December 14 2006.

The BBC reported that Lord Stevens concluded it had been a “tragic accident”.

“There was no conspiracy to murder any of the occupants of that car,” Lord Stevens said.

Lord Stevens dismissed claims from Mr Al-Fayed that Princess Diana was about to get engaged, and the ex-commissioner said scientific tests showed Diana was not pregnant.

A jury inquest into the deaths of Diana and Dodi Fayed led by Lord Justice Scott Baker began at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in October 2007.

The inquest lasted until April 2008 and heard evidence from around 250 witnesses.

Operation Paget findings

There was no conspiracy to murder Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.

The car crash was a tragic accident.

The Mercedes was travelling at an excessive speed.

Any theories concerning flashing lights can be discounted as a cause of the crash.

There was contact between the Mercedes carrying the princess and a white Fiat Uno shortly before the crash.

It is unlikely the Fiat will ever be traced.

None of the occupants of the Mercedes was wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Princess Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and Henri Paul might have survived had they been wearing seatbelts.

Princess Diana was not pregnant.

Princess Diana was not engaged and did not plan to get engaged.

Henri Paul, the driver of the Mercedes, had alcohol levels twice the British drink-drive limit at the time of the crash.

Henri Paul was not an informant for MI6.

There was no evidence of any link between the Duke of Edinburgh and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

There was no evidence to support claims the security services were involved in any way in Princess Diana’s death.

The CIA told the Stevens inquiry it had no information relevant to the investigation.

A claim by former MI6 agent Richard Tomlinson that a flash was used to blind Henri Paul was wrong and influenced by anger towards the Secret Intelligence Service, from which he had been dismissed.

Jurors came to the conclusion that Diana and Fayed were unlawfully killed as a result of the “gross negligence” of Mercedes driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.

Their verdict said contributing factors included the “impairment of the judgement of the driver of the Mercedes [Henri Paul] through alcohol” and that none of those who died were wearing a seat-belt.

The cost of the inquiry, including the inquest and Met investigation, was £12.5 million.

In a statement, Diana’s sons William and Harry thanked the jurors: “We agree with their verdicts and are both hugely grateful to each and every one of them for the forbearance they have shown in accepting such significant disruption to their lives over the past six months.”

The car in which Diana died was a dangerous insurance write-off that flipped ten times in an earlier crash, it was claimed earlier this year.

New Diana information assessed by Scotland Yard

MOST READ IN NEWS

family's torment

Husband of Benidorm plunge victim Kirsty Maxwell writes heartbreaking plea for support as he blasts Spanish courts closing for month

BLASTER CHEF

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths reveals the healthy food guru behind his blistering start to the season